Staple driving device



Patented Jan. 4 8, 1935 STAPLE DRI VING DEVICE Max Vogel, Frankfort-on-the-Maln, Germany,

assigner to The E. H. Hotchkiss Company, Norwalk, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application November 14, 1932, Serial No. 642,538 In Germany December 1, 1931 6 Claims.

This invention. relates to stapling devices for Wire staplers and more particularly to a new and advantageous form of staple, and of a machine for using the same. On account of the fact that in order for a staple to be properly driven through the work its Shanks should ordinarily be in a vertical position relative to the sheets to be fastened, in the usual type of stapling machine staples are used in which the prongs or shanks are parallel to each other and at right angles to the back or connecting portion of the staple. This form of staple, however, requires a special guide shoulder on the vertical walls of the staple guide channel containing the staple carrier or guide bar so that the staples will be held in their proper position upon this carrier. With my new formi staple these shoulders upon the staple channel may be dispensed with. In this new type of staple the shanks or prongs of the staples are inclined inwardly toward one another from the connecting bar, and to properly hold and guide these staples the side walls of the staple carrier or guide bar are also inclined inwardly toward each other toward the base of the carrier so that the carrier is narrower at the bottom than at the top. The staples are inserted from. one end on the carrier, and because of the -inclined 'side walls of this carrier or guide bar and the correspondingly inclined prongs of the-staple the staples are rmly held on 30 the carrier or guide bar and are prevented from inadvertently rising or falling oi the guide bar without the use of special guide shoulders.

However, it will be evident that in order to secure a proper driving o! the staples the Shanks of these staples must be righted or moved to a position parallel to each other and at right angles to the connecting back portion before they are driven by the device. Por this purpose the connecting back bar of the staple is vaulted or upwardly curved, and the height of the correspomi-x ing arch corresponds at least to the spread of the Shanks when they are shifted :from the inclined to the upright or parallel position. The back of the staple carrier or guide bar may be formed nat or it may be curved to correspond with the formation oi the staple. For example, a piece ci sheet metal bent to substantia' iJ-shape and open at the top would be sumcient for receiving and guiding the staples. However, at the end of the guide channei the back of the staple cenit-:r or guide bar must present a dat surface to cooperate with a stamping element moved with staple 'be or lower end o which in the. letter position of the staple driver strikes upon the curved connecting bar of the second staple, or that is the staple following th'e one which has already been reshaped or straightened and is now being driven by the driver. Thus the back of the second staple is flattened and the Shanks are bent parallel to one another prior to feeding the staple into the raceway preparatory to its being driven into the work. The stamp or staple straightening element may be formed as a separate member behind thel staple driving member and may be secured to it for simultaneous action with it, or it may form a part of the staple driver. Furthermore, the length of the staple driver is so arranged that at its lower end in the position of rest there is left a free cleft of a somewhat greater height than that which corresponds to the thickness of the staple back.

Because of thisthe foremost staple on the carrieror strip, which has not yet been straightened or reshaped is positioned with its vaulted d curved back against the rear side of the staple driver and is held there until after a staple driving operation. After its back is attened by the stamping element and the staple driver is again raised it may enter the raceway under the driver to be driven on the next operation.

- This new stapling device on account of doing away with the special guide shoulders in the staple guide channel can be constructed much more cheaply. straightening of the connecting bar ofthe staple and the righting of the staple Shanks does not require very much additional effort for operating the plunger, and this new formation of the staples and the driver has the further advantage of preventing clogging by preventing the entrance of more than one staple into the raceway at one time and therefore special holding devices under the driver for this purpose are not required.

While a desk type stapling machine, constructed in accordance with the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing it will be understood that this is ior the purpose of illustration and that the invention is not limited to any particular type ci machine but may be used inother stapling devices auch as staplin'g pliers, stapling hammers, etc.

the drawing: j

l a side elevational view showing a desk stapling machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 isA a sectional view taken substantially the 2N2 o .i but on an enlarged view ytaken substantially The stamping action required for along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 on an enlarged scale:

Fig. 4 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 3 but with the staple driving blade and associated parts in working position;

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of the machine with the parts in normal position with the exception of the cover plate which has been removed;

Fig. 6 is a View somewhat similar to Fig. 5 but with the staple driving blade omitted and showing the location of a ram or staple straightening means employed; and,

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view through the staple guide bar or carrier on an enlarged scale. r

Referring in detail to the drawing, the desk type stapling machine shown comprises a frame 1 preferably bent from a single piece of material and within the frame there is mounted a staple carrier -2 articulated to the hinge block 3 of the base 4. The staple driving means is attached to the frame 1 by means of channels 5 which channels are bent from the material forming the front end of the frame and the driving means .includes la supporting plate 6, a driving blade 7, a press button 8 on the upper end of the plunger 1 0, a plunger spring 9 for maintaining the blade 7 and plunger 10 in their normal or retracted position, and a cover plate 11.

Below the driving blade 7 or in line with such blade the base 4 is equipped with an-anvil 13 for bending or turning the prongsv or shanks of staples driven. A spring 14 interposed between the base and the frame normally operates to maintain the free end portion of the frame, or that end portion of the frame carrying the driving means, in spaced relation to the anvil 13 whereby papers or the like to be stapled may be easily positioned on the anvil. 'I'he staples generally designated 15 are fed along the carrier 2 in any desired manner as by means of a follower 16 slidable on the carrier and having ears 16av struck therefrom and slidable on a removable guide rod 17. A feed spring 24 on said rod 17 constantly presses the follower 16 against the rearmost staple on the carrier and it will be understood that the staples may be loose or may be secured together in strip form.

The staples 15 each include the shanks 18 and 19 inclined toward one another from the connecting portion or vback 20 which is arched or vaulted as shown. To accommodate this particular construction of staple the carrier 2 is so constructed that it is widest at itstop edge and is has side walls inclining toward one another to the same degree that the shanks or prongs 18 and 19 of a staple incline toward one another. `With this construction it will be apparent that on a staple being slipped onto the carrier the shanks y or prongs of the staple embrace the inclined side the staple and it is to be noted that the height of such arch corresponds to the spread of the staple shank when such shanks are brought into parallel relation at right angles to the connecting por-v tion. This shifting ofthe staple shanks from inclined to parallel relation takes place on straightthe plate l2 forms an anvil against which the arched or vaulted backs or connecting portions 20 of the staples are flattened or straightened prior vto the staples being introduced into the raceway beneath the driving blade 7.

For flattening the connecting portions 20 and straightening the shanks or prongs 18 and 19 of the staples 15 there is provided in the rear of the staple driving blade 7 a ram or plunger 21 c'onnected to move with the driving blade as by means of a screw 22 also connecting the driving blade with the plunger rod 10. Thus, it will be seen that a double plunger including the parts 7 and 21 is provided and that such parts are connected for simultaneous operation. laterally the ram or plunger 21 is guided in a slot in a gauge plate 23 inserted between the cover plate 11 and the supporting plate 6.

In relation to the driving blade 7 the ram 21 is of such length that when the driving blade is in its lowermost'driving position as shown in Fig. 4, the working edge of the ram strikes the staple following the staple which has just been driven. As the ram strikes the vaulted or arched back or connecting portion of a staple over the block or plate 12 the said portion of the staple is flattened and `the legs or prongs of the staple are forced into parallel relation at right angles to the connecting portion thereof and the staple thus treated is ready for use as a fastener. The staple thus treated is pushed forward under the driving blade 7 when the latter returns to its normal position or to its position of rest (Fig. 3) and the next vaulted or arched back staple is fed forwardly to a position under the ram 21 and on the plate 12,` and upon the plunger being again depressed has its back ilattened and its prongs straightened as will be understood.

When the spring 9 returns the parts to their normal positions the lower edge of the driving i blade leaves open above the plate 12 a cleft of somewhatA greater height than that which corresponds to the thickness of the connecting portion of a staple. The staple resting upon the plate 12 and which as yet has not been reshaped is maintained with its arch or vaulted connecting portion against the driving blade (Fig. 5) and is held fast by the latter and prevented from entering the raceway. From this it will be clear that no vaulted staple can enter into'the raceway. Since the staples are'only reshaped by the ram or stamp 21 as the necessity arises, only one staple may enter the raceway at one time, since there is but `one staple reshaped at a time, and it will therefore be clear that there is no danger of clogging of the staples in the raceway due to more than one staple entering the same at any one time.

From the foregoing it will be clear that with the construction disclosed it is not necessary to provide special guide shoulders on the `vertical walls of the guide channel containing the staple carrier 2, to prevent the staples involuntarily rising otr said carrier. carrier and of the staples the special guide shoulders heretofore provided may be dispensed with and the machine may therefore be constructed at low cost. Further, in ,its normal position or in its position of rest the staple driving `blade acts to prevent the entrance into the raceway of a staple Owing to the shape of the' which has not been reshaped so that the provision .of special means to prevent a second staple entering the raceway until after the first staple has been driven therefrom is unn.

The staple carrier 2 may be formed from a piece of sheet metal or thelike bent into U-form and open at its top side. It is-only necessary that the carrier be closed at its raceway end in order to provide the hat surface such as is provided by the plate 12 and against which .the connecting portions of staples are flattened. Further while the driving blade 7 and the ram or stamp 2l are shown as formed separately and secured to the plunger rod l0 by the screw 22 it will be understood that this specific construction is not essential.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is:

l. In a staple driving machine for staples having inclined prongs and vaulted connecting portions, a body having a raceway therein and means to drive staples through said raceway, an elongated staple carrier for delivering staples to said raceway, said carrier of greatest width adjacent its upper edge and having inclined side walls whereby when a staple shaped to ilt the carrier is on the same the' staple may not move upwardly oi! the carrier', said carrier having a dat upper surface portion at the edge of said raceway, and

' means to strike the vaulted connecting -portion of a staple when over said flat surface portion of the carrier to flatten said connecting portion and straighten vthe prongs of the staple before it isl fed to the raceway.

2. In a staple driving machine for staples having inclined prongs and vaulted connecting portions, a bodyy having a'.V raceway therein and means to drive staples through said raceway, an elongated staple carrier for delivering staples to said raceway, said carrier of greatest width adjacent its upper edge and having inclined side walls whereby when a staple shaped to ilt the carrier is on the same the staple may not move upwardly off the carrier, said carrier having a flat upper surface portion at the edge of said raceway, and means operated by said staple driving means to strike the vaulted connecting portion of a staple when over said ilat surface portion of the carrier to flatten said connecting portion and straighten the prongs of the staple before it is fed to the raceway. f

' 3. In a staple driving machine for staples having inclined prongs and vaulted connectingv portions, a body having a raceway therein and means to drive staples through said raceway, an elongated staple carrier for delivering staples to said raceway, said carrier of greatest width adjacent its upper edge and having inclined side walls whereby when a staple shaped as described is on the carrier the staple may not move upwardly off the same, said carrier having4 a flat upper surface portion at the edge of said raceway, and means movable with the staple drivingmeans asthe latter drives a staple and arrangedto intheilnalposition ofthedriving means lsti-lire the vaulted connecting portion' of the staple following the one being driven and flatten said connecting portion against the carrier and straighten the prongs of the staple beoil the same, said carrier having a dat upper surface portion at the edge of said raceway, means to strike the vaulted connecting portion of a staple when over said flat surface portion of the carrier to flatten said connecting portion and straighten the prongs of the 'staple before it is fed to the 'raceway, and said staple driving means when in a position of rest serving to prevent a staple the connecting portion of which has not been flattened from entering said raceway.

5. In a staple driving machine for staples having inclined prongs and vaulted connecting portions, a body having a raceway therein and means to drive staples through said raceway, an elongated staple carrier for delivering staples to said raceway, said carrier of greatest widthadjacent its upper edge and having inclined side walls whereby when a staple shaped as described is on the carrier the staple may not move upwardly off the same, said carrier having a fiat upper surface portion at the edgev of said raceway, means movable 'with the staple driving means as the latter drives a staple and arranged to in the nal position of the driving means strike the vaulted connecting portion of the staple following the one being driven and.l flatten said connecting portion againstthe carrierand straighten the prongs of the staple before it is fed to the raceway, and said staple driving means when in a position of rest serving to prevent a staple the connecting portion of which has not been flattened from entering said raceway.

8. In a staple driving machine for staples havinginclined prongs and .vaulted connecting portions, a body having a raceway therein, an elongated staple carrier for delivering staples to said raceway, said carriery of greatest Vwidth adjacent its upper edge fand, having inclined `side walls whereby when a staple shaped to fit the carrier is on the same the staple may not move upwardly off the carrier, said carrier having a dat upper surface portion at the edge of said raceway, and a double plunger including a 'part operable to drive staples through said raceway and a part to strike the vaulted connecting .portion of a staple when over said iiat surface of the carrier to hatten said connectingportion and straighten the prongs of the staple before it is fed' to the 

